DETROIT — Bobby Rahal laughed before calling BS when asked about recent comments made by Haas Formula One team boss Guenther Steiner, who said no American drivers are “ready” for the European-based open-wheel series.

“Oh, I think that’s all (expletive),” the driver-turned team owner said with a smile while at the Detroit Auto Show for the unveiling of the 2018 Indy car. “But that’s the European mentality. You’d think Dan Gurney, God bless his soul, and Mario Andretti and Phil Hill, and guys like Bob Bondurant and those guys, have all proven Americans can compete on any stage. But Europeans are very provincial in their outlook.”

Rahal is referring to Formula One’s feeder system — with series such as Formula 2 and Formula 3, among others — and Formula One teams primary look to those series to develop their drivers.

For example, Haas, an American-based Formula One team, employs Switzerland’s Romain Grosjean and Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen, both of whom came up through Europe’s developmental series.

“The only way I could see (an American landing in Formula One) is if there’s an American company that got in there and wanted to go to Formula One and was insistent on an American driver,” Rahal said. “But until then, it’s kind of just more of the same from the Europeans.”

Of course, Rahal wasn’t the only one irked by Steiner’s comments. Graham Rahal, Conor Daly and Andretti all vented their frustration via Twitter recently, with Andretti calling Steiner’s comments “wrong and arrogant.” The auto racing legend later explained to IndyStar that he was most troubled that Steiner has never given American drivers a chance.

“Did he ever try to ask anyone? Did he ever try to give anyone an opportunity? No,” Andretti said. “So that means he’s just demeaning and devaluing the talent that we have here. And I think that’s not right.”

If Steiner had reached out, Andretti said, he would have discovered that the United State has a wealth of emerging young talent fully capable of challenging the Formula One elite. That is, of course, if they had the right equipment, which means they probably shouldn’t sign up with Haas anytime soon, Andretti added with a chuckle.

“You tell me a guy like (Newgarden) wouldn’t win with one of the top teams like Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull?” Andretti asked. “Of course he could. Maybe not with Haas, though. … If I was in position that Josef Newgarden is in and Haas asked me, I would say no.”

Grosjean finished 13th in the championship last year, while Magnussen came in 14th. During Haas’ first two years in Formula One, the team’s best finish is 13th.

For his part, Newgarden said he certainly believes Americans have the talent to succeed in Formula One, but he also wasn’t offended by what Steiner said. The 25-year-old Nashville native said it’s possible Steiner’s words were misconstrued and that perhaps he meant that it would be tough for an American driver to jump into Formula One and succeed immediately.

“I don’t know what he really meant by that,” Newgarden said. “Maybe he’s just saying that bringing an American on, there would be a lot of work to it … and maybe they’re not equipped to do that right now. I’m so not sure he’s saying we’re not good enough.”

However, if that was Steiner’s meaning, Newgarden said, then he would vehemently disagree. Newgarden believes there is little — if any — talent gap between the top of Formula One and the top of IndyCar — the perch he currently occupies.

The young American, who has harbored Formula One dreams since his karting days, said all things being equal, Americans could put up a fight with the best Formula One has to offer.

Maybe one day he’ll get a chance to prove it.

“I’ve always wanted to do some Formula One,” Newgarden said. “Just because I’ve always loved both. I’ve always loved IndyCar and the Indy 500, but I also love Formula One. I’m a racer, so I like NASCAR, too. I like sports cars. I like it all. So selfishly, as a driver, you always want to try everything, so trying a Formula One test or getting to race over there a little bit, I’m all for it.”

Ayello writes for The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.